On this page, you will find the current Little Haven board members and their bios. Visit our Past Board Members Page to view those in the past who have served as board and executive board members.
Chair of Little Haven Board
Brandy Murley
President – Brandy Murley
President & Board Chair: January 2017 – Current (Took over from Helen Hall)
As one of Phyl Little’s granddaughters, Brandy has been involved in Little Haven from a very young age. Having served in various roles on the Management Committee over the past 9 years Brandy understands the importance of Little Haven for the Gympie and wider community.
After graduating from UQ in 1996 as a Registered Music Therapist, Brandy returned home to Gympie to raise her family of three children, and now runs her 3rd generation family business with her brother.
Brandy has a keen interest in strategy development and governance and enjoys working with the Management Committee to help the valued team at Little Haven as they continue their renowned and applauded work in community based palliative care.
Board Secretary
Sue Manton OAM
CEO & Secretary – Sue Manton OAM
CEO & Board Secretary: 2001 to Current
President:1999-2001
Committee Member:1998-1999
Sue completed her training as an RN at PA Hospital in Brisbane before spending 7 years as a Nurse Manager in Perth before moving back to Queensland and to Gympie in 1990.
Sue joined the Management Committee in 1998 before taking on the Business Manager role in 2001. Under her 23-year leadership, Little Haven has grown from supporting 40 palliative care patients a year to more than 250+ a year, along with an equal number of bereaved families.
The ‘magic’ Little Haven model, executed by a dedicated team and backed by a committed Gympie community, has attracted attention beyond the region and set precedent for how caring the dying is addressed in rural and regional Queensland.
As an AIM Qld Rural and Regional Business Manager of the Year and OAM recipient, Sue’s passion has been fueled by the need for this change.
Sue has held the position of Palliative Care Qld State Council Secretary, has presented at State Conferences and various other forums, and is a staunch advocate for community based palliative care at State and National levels.
Vice President
David Fletcher
Vice President – David Fletcher
Vice President: 2013 – Current
David Fletcher is a Senior NAB Business Banking Manager who has been in the finance industry the majority of his career.
This is a big change from his life growing up on a sheep property in NSW and then a Dairy farm in the South Burnett.
The Gympie community has been a big part of his life and he has enjoyed the business and personal relationships that have developed since his family moved here in 2009. David was invited to join the Little Haven committee in 2013 and has been a great asset in financial advice and long term planning. Little Haven Palliative Care is an organisation very close to his and his family’s heart.
When not working David enjoys time with his wife and 2 active boys. He also enjoys his training to keep fit so he can still outrun his boys and his wife.
Treasurer
Tania Hubbard
Treasurer – Tania Hubbard
Treasurer: 2021 – Current (Took over treasurer’s role from Ray Currie PSM.)
Tania is currently a Senior Accountant at Evolve Accounting & Advice.
Tania has been in the accounting industry since 2007, during which time she completed her Bachelor of Accounting through the University of South Australia, obtained her Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) accreditation and completed a CPA Public Practice Certificate. She also completed a Diploma of Accounting and a Certificate III of Financial Services.
Tania joined the committee in 2021. She has worked with Little Haven Palliative Care since 2019.
Tania has been a Gympie local since 1988 and also raised her three children here. She enjoys going to the gym to do pump classes and bushwalking.
Volunteer Rep
Trevor Kirk
Volunteer Rep – Trevor Kirk
Board Member & Volunteer Rep: 2018 – Current
Born in Gympie and employed at Nestle for 47 years, Trevor was the President of the Nestle Social Club for around 40 years and saw it go from strength to strength. He has been married to Cherryl for 46 years and has two adult children and two grandchildren.
Trevor is currently and for the last 14 years has been President of One Mile Sports Association. He has also been President of Golden City Soccer Club (4 years), President of Football Gympie (24 years) – in which he facilitated massive improvements to facilities, grounds, and fostering of the development of a family-friendly club environment.
Trevor has been involved with the Gympie Soccer scene for 34 years as a parent, canteen convenor, grounds person, handyman, financial overseer and has been heavily involved in grant application preparation. He is a life member of Golden City Soccer Club (Qld), Football Gympie, Football Wide Bay and One Mile Sports Association.
Awards received:
- Football Australia Volunteer of the Year 2009
- Queensland Health Service to Junior Sports Award 2009
- Football Queensland Volunteer Award 2009
- Australian Sports Achiever Award 2000
- Australia Day Awards – Widgee, Cooloola Shire Council, Gympie Regional Council
Trevor is an innovative thinker and brings a wealth of knowledge and organisational skills to Little Haven as a Committee member and volunteer at the Market Place.
Nursing Rep
Carolyn Mandersloot
Nursing Rep – Carolyn Mandersloot
Board Member & Nursing rep: 2021 – Current (Took over the role from Bronwyn Mcfarlane)
Carolyn’s Bio is coming soon
Clinical Rep
Dr Betty Fricke (Life member)
Clinical Rep – Dr Betty Fricke
Board Member & Clinical Rep: 2004 – Current
* Life Membership: Awarded in 2016
Betty was born in January 1946 at Clifton, a farming community on the Darling Downs. It’s interesting to hear of Betty’s early connection with dying and community care. She recalls that her grandmother died at home, cared for by relatives young and old. Her grandfather died in the little cottage hospital where the front verandah opened to the whole community. This is also where Betty was born.
Betty completed her MBBS at UQ and her internship in Toowoomba before commencing her working life as a part time family doctor, in Germany and in Queensland. Married to a religious Minister Betty has traveled extensively in Asia. It was during these visits Betty noted how in Asia families and communities make the death of a loved one part of the living experience, mourning openly and in view of all.
Betty has had an interest in the development of palliative care and attended lectures at Holy Spirit hospital in Brisbane in this area 36 years ago before moving to Gympie, where Little Haven became that extension of her learning and love for those who prepare to die.
Joining the committee in 2004 Betty is a highly valued committee member, relied on for her sound clinical advice and compassion in decision making. Betty was awarded a life membership of Little Haven in 2016 for her years of service to the organisation and continues to be an active committee member to this day.
Consumer Rep
Irene Halliday
Consumer Rep – Irene Halliday
Board Member & Consumer rep: 2018 – Current
Irene Halliday immigrated from Malaysia in 2000. She finished her tertiary studies in Malaysia before furthering her studies in the UK. She is by profession a music teacher. She works at Cooloola Christian College as a Finance & Purchasing Officer and has worked there since 2004 and is also in charge of the Instrumental Programme.
In 2017 Irene was one of the finalists for the Women in Business Award.
Irene has a passion for music, playing in orchestras and as an accompanist for choirs. She volunteers at Little Haven Palliative Care and gives her time to doing community work. Her hobbies are music, cooking, outdoor activities, and craft.
Irene first became aware of Little Haven when we were involved in the care of her husband many years ago and has remained a supporter of the work we do since. Her personal experience of the service, a family connection to palliative care, and experience with grief and loss of family members makes her a very valuable consumer representative on the committee.
Consumer Rep
Sonja Calvert
Consumer Rep – Sonja Calvert
Board Member & Consumer rep: 2018 – Current
Sonja Calvert who joins the board as a Consumer representative with a special interest in progressing the “hospice” vision.
Sonja has served on many committees, is an active volunteer and has a strong connection with Little Havens Services.
